Green Brigade return to Celtic matches update as insider has growing feeling over long term outcome

A Green Brigade source claims the ultras group and Celtic are a long way apart on them returning to Hoops matches.

The vocal supporters section have been banned since November amid a series of incidents, culminating with claims of ‘violent and threatening behaviour’ in a late October clash with Falkirk. Interim Celtic chairman Brian Wilson claimed before a home clash with Motherwell earlier this month that the ball was in the Green Brigade’s court, but a group member going by the name Martin has suggested the pair are far off, in terms of what it will take to make a return reality.

They said on The Cynic: “The ball that (Wilson) is speaking about is very much in their court. We don’t think that any of our requests are in any way unreasonable. We will see what the club comes back with, but the noises coming out of the club, sort of off the record, are not positive.

Green Brigade on return to Celtic matches

“They don’t think that what we’ve asked for is going to wash. To be honest, we think that there is something else at play here and that the ban isn’t going to be lifted regardless. I am always one of the ones who are cajoling people into saying that this can be rectified, and let’s go, meet, hear them out, and try to reach a conclusion here. Others who are more cynical have said that this is only going one way, and we’re delaying the inevitable here.

“It does definitely feel, certainly over recent weeks, it feels like this is only headed one way. I have tried to remain upbeat and more positive, and in a way, I’ve probably been made to look quite foolish for that. I’ve always maintained that we can find a way to get the Green Brigade back in the north curve this season.

“But as every conversation takes place, I’ve become less sure of that. I’m not resigned to it, but I am expecting we won’t be back in the North Curve for a long time, which is a real shame, but ultimately it’s out of our control. We’ve been told there is no room for negotiation, there is no compromise or give and go. It is very much their way or the highway.”

Celtic stance on Green Brigade return

Wilson said: “We met with the Green Brigade, it was clear the purpose of that meeting was to have an approach, have a shared approach which allowed us to go to Glasgow City Council Safety Advisory Group and to advocate for the group's return. Celtic made that case and Police Scotland said they were not really prepared to go along with it and the two grounds for that. One was they said that the members of the Green Brigade had continued to attend most games in defiance of the suspensions, so in that respect nothing had really changed.

“Also that behaviours had not changed and particularly behaviours towards the police and stewarding. Now I'm just reporting that as what the position of Police Scotland was which also became the position of the Safety Advisory Group. We met again this week with the Green Brigade, explained this to them to be the position and essentially that the conclusion of that meeting of the Safety Advisory Group was that there were conditions set which would begin again to create the pathway for a return of the full section. Now we've communicated these to them, I think that they should accept them.

I don't think any of these to say look these are unacceptable behaviours or these are things that can be accepted as the basis of finding a pathway in. I don't think if there's a will to find a solution to this that these are in any way unreasonable but the ball's in their court and they have not yet come back to us.”

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